HAIKU for Poetry Month
What is haiku? (Students want to include the meaning and history of haiku in their haiku paragraph)
Haiku is a form of Japanese poetry in which you describe a setting in nature in very few words and that you can picture in your mind.
The haiku is a Japanese verse form that presents a picture to its reader. Long ago, the haiku was the beginning part of a longer poem.
So the word haiku means “beginning phrase.” Today, the haiku is still very much like the beginning of a story, but its readers must continue
the story for them selves.
Here is a haiku by the poet Meisetsu.
A river leaping,
tumbling over rocks roars on
the mountain smiles
Meisetsu’s haiku gives you a picture of a leaping river. Close your eyes and imagine that you, too, are watching the river tumble and roar over rocks.
Can you add something to the image? Can you picture how far the river goes?
Haiku has many strict rules that give it its special character.
(Students need to include these characteristics of haiku in their haiku paragraph)
1. It is written in three lines.
2. It is written in 17 syllables. Since it has so few words, the words used in the poem are really important.
3. The first and third line have 5 syllables, the second line has 7.
(A haiku translated from another language may not follow the syllable).
4. It always contains a nature or season word to tell a season in nature.
5. It is only about one thing or subject.
6. The reader should be able to picture the poem in a scene in their mind.
7. Haiku poems never rhyme and do not repeat words.
8. Haiku poems are written in the present tense (happening now).
Here are two more haiku.
All day in gray rain
hollyhocks follow the sun’s
invisible road.
By Basho
Slanting, windy rain
umbrella, raincoat, and rain
talking together
By Buson
These haiku use human qualities and movement to nonhuman things like a river, mountain, cloud, hollyhocks, umbrella or raincoat. Basho uses hollyhocks and sun as season words for summer. Buson’s haiku makes us think of April showers.
Visit these websites:
http://www.kidzone.ws/poetry/haiku.htm
http://www.gigglepoetry.com/poetryclass/Haiku.html
February 2022
Dear Parents and Students,
Over the next several weeks, students will research, learn about and model the writing process to
write a Haiku (poem) to be read and displayed for Poetry Month. We will discuss elements of Haiku poetry in class. Work will be completed in class and at home.
Students will be graded on individual assignments and receive a spelling, writing and grammar grade for the finished work. Students will receive a grade for the class presentation. All students will create and recite a poem in class. Post a copy of these assignments where you can refer to it.
due date
1. In a paragraph, describe/ define what Haiku is and how it is written. .........................Jan. 31- Feb. 4th
Refer to Assignment #1 in Information Packet
2. Pre-writing: Choose your topic................................................................................................ Feb. 7-11th
Write a list of descriptive words you could use in your poem.
3. Writing: Write a rough draft or two of your poem.................................................................Feb. 14-18th
4. Revising: Make changes you think will make your poem better..........................................March 2-3rd
Play with the order of words etc. until you one that works best. Share your poem with others.
Ask them for input. Do they understand it? Is it clear to them? Can they visualize it?
5. Proofreading: Rough draft is due.........................................................................................March 7-10th
Check spelling, grammar, capitalization and punctuation. Turn in the rough draft and a final copy.
6. Publishing: Type your final poem in class in Times New Roman, font size 24.............. March 14-18th
You will type it in class so all the poems look alike.
7. Create a visual representation of your poem in class...................................................... March 21- 25th
Your picture will be displayed at Poetry Night.
8. Class Presentation: Read your poem to your classmate..........................................March 28-April 8th
Read it clearly and audibly. This is practice for Poetry Night. Practice the class poem to be recited, too! The class will also practice a class poem to be recited at Poetry Night.
